Combination rotating dental cleaning brush and paste device

ABSTRACT

The combination rotating dental cleaning brush and paste device. The device includes a housing having a rotating shaft therethrough. A compressible tube has two opposed ends, a first end which is rotated by the shaft and a second end having an opening therethrough. A brush is integral with, connected to, and rotated by the second end of the tube. Compression of the compressible tube forces dental paste inside of the tube out of an opening in the second end of the tube and onto the brush.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/906,861 filed Mar. 9, 2005, entitled “ACombination Rotating Dental Cleaning Brush and Paste Device”, which is acontinuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/418,235 filed Apr. 17, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,017, whichis based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/404,563 filedAug. 20, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a combination rotating dentalcleaning brush and paste device wherein paste is stored in an accordiontube whereby axial pressure on the tube forces paste onto the brush. Inparticular, the present invention provides a combination rotating dentalcleaning brush and paste device whereby paste is delivered to the brushat a rate as desired without additional switching or manipulation andwithout varying from the normal operation of the device.

2. Prior Art

Various rotating dental cleaning and prophylaxis polishing tools havebeen utilized in the past by dentists and dental technicians for removalof plaque and stains. In a typical rotating dental cleaning tool, acylindrical portion is provided with a shaft passing therethrough. Theshaft terminates in a drive shaft gear head which meshes with a drivengear member oriented at a ninety degree (90°) angle to the axis ofrotation. The rotating tool has a right angle bend and is typically heldby a dentist or a dental technician. A polishing cup is set at a rightangle to the rotary hand piece. The dental tool is driven by poweredequipment normally found in a dental office, such as AC motor power, DCmotor power, pneumatic power or hydraulic power.

The standard practice is to periodically remove the rotating brush fromthe patient's mouth and dip it into a paste container containing dentalpaste. At one time, the tools were primarily made of metal and othermaterials and were sanitized after each use. More recently, the toolsand brushes have been fabricated from inexpensive plastic and are simplydisposed of after each use.

Because the repeated removal of the brush and dipping into the pastecontainer requires a number of steps, various proposals have been madein the past to store the dental paste in the tool or housing of the toolitself. Some of these proposals involve spring or thumb activatedmechanisms which require a finger of the dentist or dental technician toadvance the mechanism in order to force the paste out to the brush.While these proposals eliminate the need for a separate container ofdental paste, they are somewhat unwieldy.

Other proposals for delivery of the paste to the brush move the pasteonto the brush by action of the rotary shaft. For example, see Lewis etal. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,468) wherein a plunger 62 is carried by a driveshaft 22 so that rotation of the drive shaft forces paste into apolishing cup.

Warden et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,933) discloses a spiral wiper elementwhich continually moves paste into a polishing cup.

Roth et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,901) discloses an attachment withintegral feed mechanism to expel paste into a polish cup. Rotation ofthe drive shaft propels paste via a propellant screw.

These proposals suffer in that the paste may not be delivered at thesame rate as it is desired.

There remains a need for a combination rotating dental cleaning brushand paste device which is disposable and prepackaged for use with dentalpaste stored therein.

There remains a need for a combination rotating dental cleaning brushand paste device wherein dental paste may be stored in the device anddelivered to the brush at a rate and at such times as are desired by thedentist or the dental technician.

There also remains a need for a combination rotating dental cleaningbrush and paste device whereby dental paste may be delivered to thebrush by simple axial movement of a compressible tube without furthermanipulating the tool or taking other actions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a combination rotating dentalcleaning brush and paste device which is attached to a standard,hand-held instrument held in the hand of a dentist, a dental technicianor an individual user.

The device includes a compressible tube which stores a measured dose ofdental paste. The tube may be axially compressed from an originalposition to a compressed position. The device includes a housing havinga first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion oriented ata 90° angle to the first portion. The cylindrical housing has a rotatingshaft passing thereto. The rotating shaft is rotated by mechanical,hydraulic, pneumatic or other means.

The shaft rotates a first gear which, in turn, rotates a second gear ata right angle thereto. The second gear is connected to a first end ofthe accordion tube. A second end of the tube terminates in a knob whichis rotated by the second end of the accordion tube. A resilient,flexible prophy cup or brush is rotated by the second end of theaccordion tube and snap fits over the knob.

In operation, the shaft is rotated which rotates the first gear. Inturn, the second gear is rotated which causes rotation of the tube andthe connected knob. Finally, rotation of the knob causes rotation of thebrush or cup. There is an opening through the knob.

As the device is brought to bear against the tooth or teeth of apatient, the tube can be caused to be axially compressed, therebycausing dental paste to be forced out of the tube, through the openingin the knob, and into the cup or brush so that the dental paste will beapplied to the teeth of the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a combination rotating dentalcleaning brush and paste device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the combination rotating dentalcleaning brush and paste device as shown in FIG. 1 with an accordiontube axially compressed;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4illustrates the device shown in FIG. 3 with portions partially cut away;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the combination disposable rotating dentalcleaning brush and dental paste of the present invention in partialsectional view illustrating in sequence the delivery of the dentalpaste;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the combinationdisposable rotating dental cleaning brush and dental paste illustratingin sequence the delivery of the dental paste; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a further alternate embodiment of thecombination disposable rotating dental cleaning brush and dental pasteillustrating in sequence the delivery of the dental paste.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specificmanners in which to make and use the invention and are not to beinterpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made inthe details of the invention's construction and the arrangement of itscomponents without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspectiveview of a combination rotating dental cleaning brush and paste device 10constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device 10 isattached to a standard hand-held instrument 12 which is held in the hand14 of a dentist or dental technician. A normal grip is maintainedthroughout operation of the device so that extraordinary action is notrequired by the dentist or the dental technician.

The device 10 of the present invention operates as a prophylaxis orprophy angle attachment and attaches to a standard dental instrument.The device 10 terminates in a standard, resilient, flexible prophy cupwhich is brought over and onto teeth 18 of a patient.

As will be described herein, the prophy cup is rotated by a system ofgears to polish and brush the teeth 18 of a patient.

The device 10 includes an accordion tube 20 which will be described indetail. The accordion tube 20 stores a measured dose of dental paste.The accordion tube 20 may be axially compressed from the originalposition shown in FIG. 1 to the compressed position shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the device 10 above a set of teeth 18apart from the standard instrument 12, while FIG. 4 illustrates a sideview of the device with portions partially cut away.

The device 10 includes a housing 30 having a first cylindrical portion32 and a second cylindrical portion 34 which is oriented at a ninetydegree (90°) angle to the first portion 32.

The cylindrical housing 30 has a rotating shaft 36 passing axiallytherethrough. The shaft 36 will be rotated by action of the hand-heldinstrument.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the shaft 36 rotates a first gear 38 which, inturn, rotates a second gear 40 at a right angle or a ninety degree (90°)angle thereto.

The second gear 40 is connected to a first end 42 of the accordion tube20. A second end 44 of the accordion tube opposed to the first endterminates in a knob 46 which is rotated by the second end 44 of theaccordion tube. A cup or brush 16 is attached to and is rotated by thesecond end of the accordion tube.

Dental paste 50 is preloaded and stored within the confines of theaccordion tube as seen in FIG. 4. Various types of dental paste might beused within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the sequential operation of the device 10. Asthe shaft 36 is rotated as illustrated by arrows 52, the first gear 38is rotated and, in turn, the second gear 40 is rotated as illustrated byarrows 54.

This force causes rotation of the accordion tube 20 and the knob 48.Finally, rotation of the knob 48 causes rotation of the brush or cup 16as illustrated by arrows 56.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is an opening 60 in the knob. As thedevice 10 is brought to bear against the tooth or teeth 18 of thepatient, the accordion tube 20 will be caused to be axially compressed,causing dental paste to be forced out of the accordion tube 20, throughthe opening 60 in the knob, and into the interior of the cup or brush 16so that the dental paste will be applied to the teeth of the patient.

As seen in FIG. 5, paste is beginning to move through opening 60 in theknob.

FIG. 6 shows the axial compression of the accordion tube 20 and themovement of the paste from the accordion tube out through the opening 60and on to the brush and teeth of the patient. Arrows 62 illustrate theaxial compression movement of the tube.

The device 10 may be prepackaged with a measured dose of dental pastewhich will be adequate to clean a patient's teeth. Once the cleaningoperation has been completed, the device may be discarded.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate sequential operation of a second, preferredembodiment 70 of the device. The device 70 includes a housing 72 havinga first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion which isoriented at a ninety degree (90°) angle to the first portion.

The cylindrical portion has a rotating shaft 74 passing axiallytherethrough. The shaft 74 will be rotated by action of the hand-heldinstrument as previously described in detail. The shaft 74 is rotated asillustrated by arrows 76. As the shaft is rotated by arrows 76, a firstgear 78 extending from the shaft is rotated. Rotation of the first gear78 causes rotation of a second gear 80 which is engaged with the firstgear. The second gear 80 is rotated as illustrated by arrows 82 in FIG.7. The second gear 80 includes an axially extending post 84 which isreceived in a recess in the housing 72. The second gear 80 also includesa radially extending disk 86 which rotates along with the second gear80. The rotational force of the second gear 80 and the disk 86 causesrotation of a compressible tube 88.

The compressible tube 88 has a first end which is rotated by theextending disk 86 and is held in place by a shoulder and lip of thecompressible tube 88. Extending from an opposed, second end of thecompressible tube 88 is a brush 90 which is integral with, connected to,and rotated by the compressible tube 88. The brush 90 is rotated asillustrated by arrows 92.

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, there is an opening 94 through the second endof the compressible tube 88. Dental paste may be stored within thecompressible tube. In one embodiment, dental paste may be stored in abead 96 which will release dental paste upon compression or uponpiercing. As the device 70 is brought to bear against a tooth or teeth98, the compressible tube 88 will be caused to be axially compressed,causing dental paste to be forced out of the bead 96 and forced out ofthe opening 94 and into the interior of the cup or brush 90 so thatdental paste will be applied to the teeth 98 of the patient.

FIG. 8 shows the axial compression of the compressible tube 88 and themovement of the dental paste from the compressible tube out through theopening 94 and onto the brush 90 and the teeth 98 of the patient. Arrows100 illustrate the axial compression movement of the tube.

The device 70 may be prepackaged with a measured dose of dental pasteadequate to clean a patient's or user's teeth. Alternatively, a bead 96containing a measured dose of dental paste may be prepackaged within thecompressible tube or may be inserted into the tube. Once the cleaningoperation has been completed, the device 70 may be discarded.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate sequential operation of yet a third, preferredembodiment 101 of the device. The device 101 includes a housing 102 witha rotating shaft 104 passing axially therethrough. The device may beconnected to and driven by a wide variety of electric toothbrushes (notshown).

In one preferred embodiment, the housing 102 includes a firstcylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion oriented at aninety degree (90°) angle to the first cylindrical portion.

The cylindrical portion has a rotating shaft 104 which will be rotatedby action of a toothbrush or hand-held instrument. The shaft 104 isrotated as illustrated by arrows 106. The shaft 104 terminates in arotating connector 116.

In one preferred embodiment, as the shaft is rotated, a first gear 108extending from the shaft is rotated. Rotation of the first gear 108causes rotation of the second gear 110 which is engaged with the firstgear 108. The second gear 110 is rotated as illustrated by arrows 112 inFIG. 9. The second gear 110 includes an axially extending post 114 whichis received in the recess in the housing 102. The axially extending post114 also includes a radially extending disk 116 which rotates along withthe second gear 110. The rotational force of the shaft 106 causesrotation of a compressible tube 118. The compressible tube 118 has afirst end rotated by the shaft and is held in place by a shoulder andlip of the compressible tube 118. Extending from an opposed, second endof the compressible tube 118 is a brush 120 having a plurality ofbristles. The brush 120 is integral with, connected to and rotated bythe compressible tube 118. The brush 120 is rotated as illustrated bythe arrows 122.

As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, there is an opening 124 through the secondend of the compressible tube 118. Dental paste may be stored within thecompressible tube. The dental paste may be stored in many forms. As thedevice 101 is brought to bear against a tooth or teeth 128, thecompressible tube 118 will be caused to be axially compressed, causingdental paste to be forced out of the opening 124 and into the interiorof the brush 120 so that dental paste will be applied to the teeth 128of the user.

FIG. 9 shows the axial compression of the compressible tube 118 and themovement of the dental paste from the compressible tube out through theopening 124 and onto the brush 120 and the teeth of the user. Arrows 130illustrate the axial compression movement of the compressible tube. Thedevice 101 can be pre-packaged with a measured dose of dental pasteadequate to clean a user's teeth. Once the cleaning operation has beencompleted, the device 101 may be discarded.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to thedrawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and furthermodifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be madewithin the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination rotating dental cleaning brush andpaste device, said device comprises: a housing having a rotating shafttherethrough; a compressible tube having two opposed ends, a first endwhich is connected to and rotatable by said shaft and an opposed secondend; a brush connected to and rotatable by said second end; and dentalpaste inside said compressible tube whereby axial compression of saidtube by pressing said brush against the teeth of a patient forces saidpaste out of said second end.
 2. The combination brush and paste deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein said brush includes a plurality ofbristles.
 3. The combination brush and paste device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said housing has a first cylindrical portion and asecond portion in angular relation therewith.
 4. The combination brushand paste device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first cylindricalportion is oriented at a ninety degree (90°) angle to said secondportion.
 5. The combination brush and paste device as set forth in claim1 wherein said rotating shaft terminates in a rotating connector.
 6. Thecombination brush and paste device as set forth in claim 5 wherein saidrotating connector is a disk.
 7. The combination rotating dentalcleaning brush and paste device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidsecond end has an opening therethrough to permit said paste to pass fromsaid tube to said brush.
 8. The combination brush and paste device asset forth in claim 5 wherein said compressible tube is removablyattached to said rotating connector.
 9. A method of using a combinationdental cleaning brush and paste device, wherein the combination devicecomprises a compressible tube and a rotating shaft, said methodcomprises: storing a quantity of dental paste in the compressible tubehaving two opposed ends, a first end connected to the rotating shaft andan opposed second end; rotating a brush that is integral with andconnected to said compressible tube; and axially compressing saidcompressible tube to force said paste out of an opening in said secondend of said tube and onto said brush, wherein said compressible tubecompressed by pressing said brush against the teeth of a patient. 10.The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said brush includes aplurality of bristles.
 11. The method as set forth in claim 9 whereinsaid rotating shaft passes through a cylindrical housing.
 12. The methodas set forth in claim 9 wherein said rotating shaft terminates in arotating connector.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidrotating connector is a disk.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 12including the additional steps of removing said compressible tube fromsaid rotating connector after use and replacing said compressible tubewith a replacement compressible tube.